STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2959

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3070

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3070 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the maximum amount of public funds available to certain state candidates in each election; and

(2) Increase the amount of voluntary state income tax check-off contributions that may be designated for the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters, Common Cause Hawaii, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission and Department of Taxation.

Your Committee finds that the State made major reforms to campaign spending laws in 1995 to bring about fair election processes, including setting candidate spending limits, making public funding available to qualified candidates, and leveling the playing field for newcomers to the political process. Your Committee further finds that the expenditure limit amounts have not changed since 1995. This measure increases those amounts to provide a more competitive playing field to candidates who voluntarily agree to limit campaign expenditures. In addition, this measure increases the tax check-off contribution that tax payors may designate to the Hawaii Campaign Election Fund.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3070 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair